Achievements

Narda's fabrics are good and strong,
they'll last you a lifetime, but it's
her way with colors that makes her
special
--lifestyle asia, November 1987--

Narda's History

Narda's started in 1970 in La Trinidad, Benguet, Philippines weaving blankets from recycled acrylic yarns. Narda Capuyan a family planning nurse whose hand - knitting hobby attracted the mothers, encourage the women to weave to keep them busy from making more babies. Her alternative method of family planning became a success, as did her weaving business. From the blankets , she moved on to home furnishings, fashion, and fashion accessories.

Big break came in 1982 when Bloomingdale's department store in New York decided to centrally feature Narda's products in an all-Philippine sales exhibtion. The show, popularized in Narda's bringing her to Japan, Europe and Canada. Neiman Marcus, Lord and Taylor, Marshal Fields in the U.S.A and Hudson's Bay in Canada were some of Narda's initial buyers.

The highly innovative direction that the work has taken garnered for Narda's in 1982, the GOLDEN SHELL AWARD - the most prestigious award given by the ministry of Trade for excellence in exports and for reviving a dying indigenous art.Many other awards followed but more significant was the outstanding COUNTRY SIDE INVESTORS AWARD presented to Narda's Handwoven Arts & Crafts Inc. by President Corazon C. Aquino, in 1989.

The Philippine Marketing Association also recognized Narda's very forward and uncomplicated netwrok open for the AGORA AWARD for her outstanding achievement in Export Marketing. IN 1999 Narda Capuyan was selected as one of The 100 Women of the Philippines who have excelled in their work and contributed to National Development.

A decade of IKAT ventures has produced a body of work now seen in a number of five-star hotels both here and abroad and carried by boutiques and specialty shops in four continents.